There’s a reason Douglas Davis and Randall Hickman inhabit the lead roles in the 1965 comedy “The Odd Couple” with such a natural ease.

The longtime theater co-producers have played Neil Simon’s mismatched roommates twice before in 2000 and 2007, and they’re reprising the parts again this month at the Welk Resorts Theatre in Escondido.

The co-owners of Fallbrook’s Premiere Productions play the characters of Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison without the shouting, over-the-top slapstick comedy and rat-a-tat line delivery seen in the 1970s TV series adaptation. Instead, these are real men with real conflicts that play out in a more natural rhythm. While it’s not a brisk, rolling-in-the-aisles kind of comedy, it’s honest and every laugh feels well-earned.

“The Odd Couple” is the story of the unlikely cohabitation of two divorced men. Oscar Madison is a slovenly New York sports writer who takes in an old pal — fastidious, allergy-prone Felix Ungar, whose wife has kicked him out. The play chronicles the roommates’ unsuccessful efforts at living together, hanging out with Oscar’s poker buddies and having a disastrous double-date.

As Oscar, Hickman does a slow burn, playing straight man to Davis, who steals every scene he’s in as Felix. Davis is so immersed in the character, he stays on set all the way through intermission, cleaning up the messy apartment to Felix’s high standards.

The four actors who play the roommates’ poker buddies also turn in down-to-earth, realistic performances. Torre Younghans is best as Roy, Oscar’s accountant. And Marc Sylwestrzak is a regular joe as their cop pal, Murray. Randall Huft plays the henpecked Vinnie and Larry Parker is the volcanic Speed.

The charming and hilarious Eileen Bowman Sylwestrzak makes the most out of her small role as Gwendolyn Pigeon, the English secretary who, with her sister Cecily (an amusing Melissa Murphy Beamish) has a double date with Oscar and Felix.

Davis designed and built the well-appointed apartment set and Hickman created the authentic period costumes. Jennifer Edwards designed the lighting. Crystal Burden designed the sound, which includes the familiar recorded theme music from the television show.

Directed by Hickman, the play runs two hours, 20 minutes, with intermission. It’s longer than many of today’s stage comedies, with a leisurely pacing that was more common in the 1960s. But for older audiences who remember the play, and for audiences who are looking for a play where the humor feels organic, “The Odd Couple” is a rewarding ride.